| Unit name | Art and Asia |
|---|---|
| Unit code | HART30061 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Jumabhoy |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
none |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
none |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
none |
| School/department | Department of History of Art (Historical Studies) |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
Why is this unit important?
Asian art is now a global phenomenon. It has several booming markets in the UK, the USA, and within the various cities of Asia itself. India and China are key cultural players and boast a number of new Biennales and art museums, both public and private. But what is ‘Asian’ art? Is ‘Asia one’ - as has been famously claimed - or is it a divided entity at best, a dangerous illusion at worst? Examining Asian identity in the face of the region’s competing nationalisms, this unit will encompass some of the most cutting-edge art-making. Arguably, art from Asia has a more direct relationship to ideas of belonging and home than that within the Euro-American establishment. It is deeply political, invariably radical and urgent in its potential for bringing about change in the socio-political landscapes of the various Asias.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
Special Subject seminars build on your previous units by allowing you to focus on a particular area in greater depth. You will further your understanding of specific geographical and temporal contexts; hone your critical skills, including visual analysis; and develop greater confidence with primary sources and complex concepts to support your independent research. The unit follows on from debates about Modernism, empire and decolonising the art historical canon in the first and second years. It will also give you a taste of the emerging art markets in Asia as well as the new institutions and curatorial ventures that have addressed the idea of Asia – both in the West, and in Asia itself. As a third-year unit, it builds on BA1 and BA2 courses which have some focus on Asian art and its conflicts (e.g. Art and Empire and Global Modernisms), though these units are not pre-requisites.
An overview of content
The unit investigates modern and contemporary art in a global context, investigating the possibility of a unified ‘Asian art history’. Pushing the boundaries of Eurocentric art historical categories, the unit will delve into experimental art practices, such as immersive installations, videos, performances, food art, and sculpture as well as unconventional paintings that burst out of the frame. It will explore seminal exhibitions of Asian art and pioneering curatorial ventures at Asia’s new Biennales (such as those in India, Singapore, and the groundbreaking experiments of the Gwangju Biennale in South Korea). Drawing on case studies from South Asia, South East Asia, and East Asia, the unit will be organised thematically. Topics may include: Asian art and the colonial encounter, nationalism and modernism, traditions and tensions, art and partition, maps and borders, time and trauma, feminist art, and contemporary art markets.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit?
As a result of this unit, you will discover a range of visual and material culture, examining both the Modern and Contemporary as categories in Asian art. You will become familiar with a diverse array of artistic practices and forms of cultural production, from paintings and sculpture to installations, film and performance art. You will develop a stronger understanding of a range of issues at the very heart of art history as a discipline, as part of which you will develop critical skills and new competencies in engaging with new historiographical and theoretical approaches that are global in their scope. The unit also has practical applicability; it will expose you to institutions outside the UK, offering insight into potential career prospects, and equip you with the skills to participate in the ‘Asian century’.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit students will be able to:
Classes will involve a combination of short-form lectures, class discussion, investigative activities, and practical activities. Students will be expected to engage with readings and participate on a weekly basis. This will be further supported with drop-in sessions and self-directed exercises with tutor and peer feedback.
Tasks which count toward your unit mark (summative):
Individual Digital Presentation (25%) [ILOs 1-5]
Timed Assessment (75%) [ILOs 1-5]
When assessment does not go to plan
When required by the Board of Examiners, you will normally complete reassessments in the same formats as those outlined above. However, the Board reserves the right to modify the format or number of reassessments required. Details of reassessments are confirmed by the School/Centre shortly after the notification of your results at the end of the academic year.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. HART30061).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
